Selective voltammetric determination of electroactive neuromodulating species in biological samples using iron(II) phthalocyanine modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes paste electrode

Iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) modified multi-wall carbon nanotubes paste electrodes (MWCNTPEs) were used as voltammetric sensors to selectively detect dopamine (DA) in the presence of serotonin (5-HT). The electrochemical behavior of DA at the new modified electrode was investigated using CV. The enhanced current response of DA indicates that FePc modification of the MWCNTPE surface results in a high catalytic activity for the redox reaction of DA. Differential pulse voltammetry was applied in detection of DA and 5-HT at FePc-MWCNTPE. The method parameters were optimized. Detection limit of 2.05 × 10⁻⁷ M was obtained for DA by using the electrocatalytic oxidation signal corresponding to the Fe^II/Fe^III redox process. The separation between the peak potentials of DA and 5-HT is 170 mV which is large enough for the simultaneously, selective determination of the two chemical species in their mixtures. There was no electrochemical response for ascorbic acid (AA) added in the sample. The monoamine neurotransmitter measuring method has been tested in analyzing deproteinized serum samples.     

Automatic detection of microaneurysms in colour fundus images for diabetic retinopathy screening

Regular eye screening is essential for the early detection and treatment of the diabetic retinopathy. This paper presents a novel automatic screening system for diabetic retinopathy that focuses on the detection of the earliest visible signs of retinopathy, which are microaneurysms. Microaneurysms are small dots on the retina, formed by ballooning out of a weak part of the capillary wall. The detection of the microaneurysms at an early stage is vital, and it is the first step in preventing the diabetic retinopathy. The paper first explores the existing systems and applications related to diabetic retinopathy screening, with a focus on the microaneurysm detection methods. The proposed decision support system consists of an automatic acquisition, screening and classification of diabetic retinopathy colour fundus images, which could assist in the detection and management of the diabetic retinopathy. Several feature extraction methods and the circular Hough transform have been employed in the proposed microaneurysm detection system, alongside the fuzzy histogram equalisation method. The latter method has been applied in the preprocessing stage of the diabetic retinopathy eye fundus images and provided improved results for detecting the microaneurysms.     

Stabilizing composite control for a class of linear systems modeled by singularly perturbed Ito differential equations

In this paper, the problem of robust H_∞ control is investigated for sampled-data systems with probabilistic sampling. The parameter uncertainties are time-varying norm-bounded and appear in both the state and input matrices. For the simplicity of technical development, only two different sampling periods are considered whose occurrence probabilities are given constants and satisfy Bernoulli distribution, which can be further extended to the case with multiple stochastic sampling periods. By applying an input delay approach, the probabilistic sampling system is transformed into a continuous time-delay system with stochastic parameters in the system matrices. By linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, sufficient conditions are obtained, which guarantee the robust mean-square exponential stability of the system with an H_∞ performance. Moreover, an H_∞ controller design procedure is then proposed. An illustrative example is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.     

Reach and posture hand preferences during arboreal feeding in sifakas (Propithecus sp.): A test of the postural origins theory of behavioral lateralization.

Sixteen sifakas (11 Propithecus verreauxi coquereli, 2 Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi form majori, and 3 Propithecus tattersalli) were videotaped as they fed on leaves in an arboreal context. The hand used to feed and the hand used to maintain postural stability was coded. For each subject, the lateral bias of the hand used to feed was opposite the hand used in postural support. Seven sifakas displayed no bias for feeding or posture-related hand use, 7 sifakas displayed significant feeding-related reach preferences for pulling branches to the mouth (5 left- and 2 right-hand preferences), and 9 sifakas exhibited significant hand preferences for postural support (2 left-, 7 right-hand preferent). Although these data do not strongly support the postural origins theory of behavioral lateralization, the modal preference pattern for sifakas that displayed significant hand preferences for posture and feeding involve a left bias for feeding and a right bias for postural support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accountability in Child Welfare Services: Developing a Statewide Outcome Evaluation Program.

Questions are often raised regarding the effectiveness and value of treatment programs for children and families. Recently, programs have been increasingly held accountable for services offered. In response, the member agencies of IARCCA have developed a comprehensive outcome measurement program. This article describes the project, focusing on the conditions that led to its inception and how the measurement plan was developed. In addition, the article includes information on the selection of personnel, measurement instruments, and methods and on the process of data collection. Summary results are provided, including how these results are utilized to improve services. Finally, the continued expansion and future directions of the Outcome Project are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

EMDR Therapy Following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: A Community-Based Intervention Project in New York City.

This article presents the results of a time-limited psychological relief effort using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Clients made highly significant positive gains on a range of outcome variables, including validated psychometrics and self-report scales. Analyses of the data suggest 2 broad conclusions: EMDR is a useful treatment intervention both in the immediate aftermath of disaster as well as later; the longer treatment is delayed, the greater the level of disturbance experienced by clients. Also discussed are problems in conducting research during mass disaster response situations. A demonstration of an analog to a wait-list control group is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High-aspect-ratio microstructures fabricated by X-ray lithography of polymethylsilsesquioxane-based spin-on glass thick films

 In this paper, a process for 200 μm high-aspect-ratio micro-optical (HARM) structures fabricated by deep X-ray lithography (DXRL) of polymethylislesuioane-based spin-on glass (SOG) thick films is presented. The SOG material used in the whole procedures is polymethylsilsesquioxane (GR650), which is a kind of sol-gel derived material and can be cured at a reasonable low temperature (75 °C). A technique to cast thick GR650 films was established in the overall process. After consolidation, the GR650 thick films were machined to reach 200 μm uniformly. Then, as negative resists, the GR650 thick films were patterned directly by DXRL. X-ray irradiated regions can be selectively retained with high structural resolution by development in an organic solvent, such as methanol. Parameter screening was done to find minimum and maximum doses needed for patterning/cross-linking, to vary development time, and to explore different film thickness. The whole process is a novel of technique to create HARM structures based on SOG materials without using molds. This technique can be extended to considerably larger structural heights. Surface and bulk compositions of the irradiated films were measured by XPS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface quality by roughness testing system (WYKO RST) was investigated to fabricate the microstructure with a high-accuracy surface. Received: 31 October 2001/Accepted: 23 January 2002 This work was partially supported by NSF/LEQSF (2001-04)-RII-02 grant “Micro/Nanodevices for Physical, Chemical and biological Sensors”.     

Gene Discovery in Gelsemium Highlights Conserved Gene Clusters in Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis

Genome mining is a routine technique in microbes for discovering biosynthetic pathways. In plants, however, genomic information is not commonly used to identify novel biosynthesis genes. Here, we present the genome of the medicinal plant and oxindole monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) producer Gelsemium sempervirens (Gelsemiaceae). A gene cluster from Catharanthus roseus, which is utilized at least six enzymatic steps downstream from the last common intermediate shared between the two plant alkaloid types, is found in G. sempervirens, although the corresponding enzymes act on entirely different substrates. This study provides insights into the common genomic context of MIA pathways and is an important milestone in the further elucidation of the Gelsemium oxindole alkaloid pathway.